To answer this question correctly, students must explain both how this source provides useful evidence about the living conditions of slaves and how the source is limited as evidence. For Question 1, students must explain that the photo provides some idea of the types of houses that slaves inhabited on this particular plantation. In Question 2, students must see that the photograph was taken decades after the end of slavery and therefore provides limited evidence about the lives of slaves.
Level: Proficient
Question 1
Student explains that the photograph depicts the quarters once inhabited by slaves and therefore provides information about the living conditions of slaves on this plantation.
The student notices the date of the photo and explains that the photo may help reveal what conditions had been like for slaves.
This student accurately notes that this photograph can best be used to provide information about the housing arrangements for slaves at this particular plantation.
Question 2
Student sees that the photograph was taken in 1903 and explains that the gap in time between when the photograph was taken and the end of slavery limits the usefulness of this resource as evidence of living conditions of slaves.
The student sources the photograph and explains that slavery had ended by this point.
The student correctly points out that the individuals in the photograph were not slaves.
This student provides a clear explanation of the limitations of a photograph taken decades after the end of slavery.
Level: Emergent
Question 1
Student explains how the photograph provides useful information about the housing that slaves inhabited but makes the mistaken assumption that the plantation workers were slaves.
The student correctly explains that the photo provides information about housing conditions but suggests that the individuals pictured were slaves.
Question 2
Student identifies limitations of the source but doesn’t correctly explain the importance of the date of the photo for determining the reliability of the source.
This student correctly sources the photo but draws the unfounded conclusion that the plantation is a replica.
Although the student accurately notes that it is possible that the photo was posed or that the conditions depicted were not representative of those on most plantations, the date of the document is never addressed.
Level: Basic
Question 1
Student assumes that the plantation workers in 1903 are slaves and/or does not explain how the photograph provides useful information.
The student draws conclusions about living conditions that are not adequately supported by the photograph.
This student seems to ignore the date of the document and operates under the assumption that the individuals in the photo are actually slaves.
Question 2
Student doesn’t explain how the date of the photograph limits its usefulness as evidence of the living conditions of slaves.
This student incorrectly identifies the individuals in the photo as slaves and suggests that photos are primarily useful if they convey emotion.
This student seems to believe that the photo would only be useful as evidence if it showed the "harsh" conditions that slaves faced. Moreover, the date of the document has been completely ignored.
Many students offered similar responses. Instead of considering the limitations of this particular document, they suggested what else they'd like to know about living conditions.
